Mickadeit: Gun control in the hands of readers

At Ade's Gun Shop & Em & M Guns in Orange, Emily Atkinson shows shows the safety features of a Springfield Armory XD compact pistol to a female client. This type of semi-automatic pistol has been available in the U.S. for more than 100 years. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

On Monday, I wrote that I had no hope that more gun regulation would stop mass shootings because the only way to do this is to completely eliminate guns. But I asked readers to send me their suggestions for gun control, making sure to address the two problems that I see with a total ban: 1) the virtual impossibility of a constitutional amendment and 2) the virtual impossibility of dealing with the 300 million guns already out there (plus the black market in guns).

As you'd imagine, response was mixed. "How did you get hired by the OC Register? You make too much good sense," wrote Marc Hale. "Don't people realize criminals will just buy them on the black market? The cartels will smuggle them across the border."

Then there was Steve Hale, presumably no relation: "I used to think that you were almost the only sane voice writing for the wacko Register. Yes, I do think that more gun laws would be a good thing. Can we really tolerate more of these mass shootings without doing anything to try to prevent them?"

It's comforting that even Americans who are so polarized on one of the fundamental issues of the day can find common ground to gratuitously bash the Register.

Some people merely disagreed with my premises.

Attorney William Crosby, for example, wrote: "Regardless of the existence of millions of semi-automatic handguns and other assault-type weapons that would be available on the black market, we have to start somewhere. There should be strict licensing requirements for the possession of guns and Draconian penalties for possessing illegal weapons."

We do require registration and I don't think harsher penalties are deterrents to insane shooters who generally kill themselves anyway.

But I appreciate that readers tried, and they came up with some interesting ideas on gun control, many revolving around economic incentives and disincentives.

"Assuming assault weapons were banned and people were asked to turn in their guns for cash, (that) might help," writes Paul Maize. "You would be surprised what people will do for cash. This will not completely stop the violence but maybe it's a start, and if we can save just a few children and lives it's worth it."

Assault weapons were banned, and some police agencies have tried guns-for-cash programs. I suppose if you expanded it to a nationwide program, that might help.

Josh Sloan thinks a "$10 per bullet tax ... would get around all your issues." Except for the gazillion rounds out there now.

Bob Baker of Dana Point notes that ammo eventually gets too old to be effective; therefore, strictly regulating it would eliminate the gun black market and, eventually, the bullets out there wouldn't work. I think this simply creates a black market for fresh ammo.

My editor thinks requiring gun owners to have liability insurance would make them more responsible about who they gave access to their guns. I think bad guys will ignore gun insurance mandates.

There were some technology-based ideas. Bill Alford thinks gun-tracking has merit. Put chips in guns.

"Gun sensors are placed at the 100-foot boundaries of schools, city halls, subways, etc. to detect guns ... and who is the registered owner," Alford wrote. "Shoppers, kids, subway riders, etc. have time to prepare, knowing a gun is approaching."

I think some kind of "smart guns" solution has promise. Problem: 300 million guns already out there.

Most writers didn't think there was a single solution to the mass shootings. To that end, nobody put in more effort than Paul, who sent a 19-point plan.

Among his ideas: "No. 2: "Stigmatize gun use and abuse." No. 9: "Increase the price of legal guns to exorbitant levels, the way tobacco is now." No 11. "Ban hunting except with rented guns to qualified individuals." No. 12: "Publish lists of (concealed weapons) applicants."

His two most, um, interesting: No. 14: "Federal investigation of the NRA," and No. 17: "Develop specific psychiatric diagnoses for gun abuse, for fixation on guns and gunplay, for obsessional use, for identity issues mixed with guns, and treatment plans."

Tomorrow: Proposed solutions that don't involve gun control.

Mickadeit writes Mon.-Friday. Contact him at 714-796-4994 or fmickadeit@ocregister.com.

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